THIS IS DANCE: The Car Man by Matthew Bourne

Tue 13th Oct 2026 to Sat 17th Oct 2026, various times

Location: Birmingham

Venue: Birmingham Hippodrome

A dance thriller like no other. Matthew Bourne’s award-winning The Car Man is back!

Loosely based on Bizet’s ever-popular opera, The Car Man has one of the most thrilling and instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures’ repertoire.

The familiar 19th Century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy 1950’s garage-diner in the American Mid-West where the dreams and passions of a small-town are shattered by the arrival of a handsome and enigmatic stranger. Fuelled by heat and desire, the inhabitants are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge.

Matthew Bourne’s vivid storytelling combines with one of the most passionately dramatic scores ever written, with music by Terry Davies featuring Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite (after Bizet’s Carmen), to create a dance thriller like no other.

The Car Man will ignite your senses and leave you breathless.

Buckle up for the ride of your life. gripping, gasp-making, edge of your seat stuff

Daily Mail

★★★★★

A shatteringly good piece of storytelling. terrific

Observer

★★★★★

A thrilling and seriously sexy sensation

Daily Express

★★★★★

Credits

Music by Terry Davies & Rodion Shchedrin’s Carmen Suite (after Bizet’s Carmen)
Sound by Paul Groothuis
Lighting by Chris Davey
Designed by Lez Brotherston
Directed & Choreographed by Matthew Bourne

This performance is part of THIS IS DANCE an international season of dance in Birmingham presented in partnership with FABRIC, Birmingham Hippodrome, Birmingham Rep, Fierce Festival, Midlands Arts Centre and Sampad Arts, bringing exceptional dance from both across the globe and the local community.

Key Information

Content warnings: contains scenes of a sexual nature, brief nudity, strobe lighting and gunshots.

Pricing

From £26

In Categories

Birmingham

12+

This Is Dance

Performance

Events and Performances

Venue

Birmingham Hippodrome

Birmingham Hippodrome is the UK’s most popular single auditorium theatre welcoming, on average, over 500,000 visitors every year.

It offers a mixed programme of nearly 400 performances, featuring touring musicals, world-class ballet and opera, drama and comedy, international dance and the world’s biggest Pantomime. The space also houses the 200-seat Patrick Centre.